At least 20 passengers have been reportedly abducted by armed men along the waterways connecting Akwa Ibom and Cross River states.
The victims were said to be aboard a boat traveling from Oron in Akwa Ibom to a destination in Cross River when the incident occurred on April 18. The attack reportedly took place along the Calabar waterways, a known route for inter-state marine travel.
Confirming the incident, Timfon John, spokesperson for the Akwa Ibom State Police Command, stated that the abduction happened within the Calabar axis of the waterway.
“The incident happened in Calabar waterways. However, we are collaborating to get the people involved released unhurt, please,” she journalists.
Meanwhile, Irene Ugbo, spokesperson for the Cross River State Police Command, said she had not yet received an official report of the abduction. She added that she would contact relevant authorities to verify the incident.
This latest development adds to a string of similar attacks on Nigeria’s inland waterways. Earlier this month, suspected pirates abducted five travelers aboard a commercial boat along the Degema–Akuku-Toru route in Rivers State. In September 2024, about 10 passengers were kidnapped by armed men on the Bonny waterways.
The recurring incidents have raised fresh concerns over the safety of riverine travel, especially in the Niger Delta and coastal regions, where waterways remain a critical means of transportation for many communities.
